The Three Highest (Bulgaria)

An unforgettable tour to Bulgaria's three of the most beautiful mountains.

Tour Highlights

♦ The three most beautiful mountains in Bulgaria on one trip
♦ The highest peak on Balkan Peninsula: Mt. Musala (2925m)
♦ Diverse landscapes: marble alpine peaks, vast green hills and meadows, century-old beech forests
♦ Stunning natural phenomena: Stob sand pyramids, dozens of glacial lakes among which the famous Seven Rila Lakes;
♦ Rila Monastery - the most popular among all monasteries in Bulgaria equally for its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history.
♦ The Old city of Plovdiv – European capital of culture for 2019

Itinerary:

Day 1. Sofia
Arrival at Sofia airport and transfer to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2. Vidima - Pleven Hut
Transfer to the small Balkan village Vidima (3 hours drive). We leave our vehicle close to the small hydroelectric power station bearing the same name and starting walking heading South to reach Pleven hut where we have dinner and stay overnight.Walking time: 2.5 hours; Uphill walk: 850 m

Day 3. Pleven hut - Botev peak - Pleven Hut - Vidima - Plovdiv
Early start of the day. The Mt Botev (2376 m) climb takes about 3 hours. We spend some time at the meteorological station on the top to enjoy the magnificent views and eat our picnic lunch before heading back to Pleven hut and Vidima. We continue to Plovdiv over Troyan Pass. Overnight in the old part of the cityWalking time: 7 hrs; Uphill walk: 800m; Downhill walk: 1500 m.

Day 4. Plovdiv - Borovets - Mt Mussala - Govedartsi
Today we climb the highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkans – Musala (2925 m .). We drive to Borovets ski resort (1.5 hours), where we take the lift to Yastrebets Peak (2369). Enjoyable walk along Dwarf Pine massifs with the jagged form of Mount Musala at the background leads us to Musalenski Lakes, lying at the foots of the peak. The view from the top is truly breath-taking – you can make out the remaining peaks of Rila Mountains; the marble edges of the Pirin Mountains; Mount Vitosha and the Sredna Gora Mountains; the green summits of the Rodopi Mountains; and last, but not least, the long body of the Balkan range. After returning back to our vehicle we drive for another 30-40 min. to the village of Govedartsi where we stay for the night. Walking time: about 6.30 hrs Uphill walk: 650 m; Downhill walk: 650 m

Day 6. Govedartsi village - Rila Monastery - Bansko
Transfer to the most famous landmark of Bulgaria – Rila Monastery. Sightseeing and leisure hike to the hermitage of St. Ivan Rilski. The next stop nearby are the amazing sand forms near Stob village – The Stob Pyramids. Then we continue on to the foots of Pirin Mountains and the town of Bansko for overnight.Walking time between 2-3 hours Uphill walk: 150 m; Downhill walk: 150 m

Day 7. Bansko - Vihren peak - Sofia
A fairly difficult ascent to highest peak in Pirin Mountains - Mount Vihren (2914m a.s.l.), awaits us. On our way to the peak we have various opportunities to enjoy most of the Pirin's peaks, Vlahini and Bunderishki glacial lakes as well as Edelweiss and many other rare plants flowering in the Karst parts of the mountains. Return to Sofia and overnight.Walking time: 7-8 hours; Uphill walk: 1,000 m; Downhill walk: 1,000 m

Day 8. Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure

Luggage transport: Luggage is taken care of throughout the whole trip

Included in the price: ►accommodation 6 nights guesthouses and standard hotels and one night in mountain hut with en-suite facilities, 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners (days 2, 4, 5, 6) ► airport transfers on arrival and departure days as set by the itinerary (Day 1 and Day 8, other days - upon additional payment) ►all ground transfers ►English-speaking guide ►lift tickets

Not included: ►flight tickets ►maps (could be requested in advance when booking the tour) ► airport transfers outside the tour itinerary ►insurance ►entrance fees ►tips ►drinks and meals not mentioned in the program ►personal expenses.